It’s easier to predict who will be the best teams in college football, but once you get past the first two to three teams in each power conference, it becomes a little murky.

Each season, there are a few teams in each conference that don’t end up competing for a national title, but they do pull off a big upset, win a decent-sized bowl game, or go over on their win total for the year. Here are the four teams from each power conference that I feel are most underrated heading into this college football season.

ACC: Virginia Tech o/u 6.5

While he was in charge of the Penn State football program for the better part of the last decade, head coach James Franklin became a bit of a punchline due to his inability to win a big game. However, despite his inability to win top-10 matchups, he did take over a Penn State program that was exiting the shadows cast by the Joe Paterno/Jerry Sandusky era.

He wasn’t the best of the best, but he consistently recruited well and met high expectations in Happy Valley. Virginia Tech has struggled to be competitive during the NIL era, and I believe that will change quickly under Franklin.

Virginia Tech’s offense will look completely different in 2026, and that’s for the better. Ethan Grunkemeyer will be a far more consistent quarterback, replacing Kyron Drones, who had massive flashes but also equally as large valleys. They’ll have a very solid running back duo in Marcellous Hawkins and Louisiana transfer Bill Davis.

The Hokies are light in the trenches on both sides of the ball, but have enough talent in the skill positions that they can surprise teams that are better than them. I think they go over their win total and are fairly competitive in a weak ACC.

Big Ten: Minnesota o/u 6.5

I am exceedingly high on Minnesota this season. The middle of the Big 10 is an absolute toss-up, so I’m willing to bet on elite quarterback play, and let the rest fall into place.

Minnesota has been the most underrated Big Ten team ever since P.J. Fleck took over as head coach in 2017. They are a step behind the big dogs in the conference, but they consistently handle their business year over year.

However, unlike the last few seasons, Minnesota has built an offensive line that even some of the best teams in the Big Ten will envy. They have five big veterans up front, and they will need to lean on them to improve what was an underwhelming offense in 2025.

The defense will once again be very solid, especially when you have a future first-round draft pick in Anthony Smith playing on the defensive line. They’ll quietly have one of the better pass rushes in the country, which will hide many weaknesses that their secondary presents. Minnesota won’t be representing the Big Ten in the playoffs this year, but they could surprise people with 8+ wins.

Big 12: Houston o/u 8.5

Many seem to forget that Houston is quietly coming off a 10-win season. The Cougars are a team that’s on the verge of becoming the next big thing in college football. Not many schools have NIL budgets like Houston’s, and it shows in the talent they’re bringing in.

Conner Weigman is the starter for now and is actually one of the better quarterbacks in the country; however, the best quarterback in the building might just be 5-star freshman Keisean Henderson.

Houston also hit the transfer portal for some immediate impact players. Oregon transfers Ashton Porter and Makhi Hughes are two of the most underrated pickups in the country. Houston’s a very complete football team on both sides, but if they want to have back-to-back seasons with double-digit wins, the defense will have to be more consistent.

Despite all the veterans returning to this Houston squad, they still only have the 13th oldest team in the Big 12. I’ll take experience over age, and bet on Houston to make it two great seasons in a row.

SEC: Auburn o/u 6.5

Despite missing a bowl game in 2025, Auburn was far more talented than their record would imply. The defense was good enough to compete in the SEC last year, only giving up more than 24 points twice all season.

Fortunately, they decided to fix the offense this offseason, bringing former USF head coach Alex Golesh and his quarterback Byrum Brown. These two combined for one of the most exciting offenses in the country last season, and I expect to see similar results in the SEC.

Auburn is going to play with a ton of tempo this year and will be pushing the ball downfield to one of the best receiver rooms in the conference. This offense will look completely different schematically from last year, but the biggest question mark remains with the offensive line.

Golesh did a solid job of rebuilding this offensive front through the portal, but it still looks like they’ll be leaving a lot to be desired. My hope is that the fast-paced offense will mask many of their deficiencies, and they’ll be able to produce enough to compete with the best of the best in the ACC. I love Auburn to get at least 7 wins this year, and maybe more if things go well in year one of the Alex Golesh era.

The Baltimore Orioles will look to extend their season-best, five-game winning streak when they visit the Houston Astros on Saturday afternoon.

The Orioles maintained their winning ways when Taylor Ward hit a two-run, go-ahead home run in the eighth inning of a 3-2 victory in Friday night’s series opener in the first game for both teams following the All-Star break.

Baltimore has had some close results recently, including those that have been relatively low-scoring. Across their 11 games in July, they’ve had three 3-2 outcomes, going 2-1.

“For us, it’s being able to win these (low-scoring close games),” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. “We have to be able to navigate these games.”

The Astros are 0-3 in one-run games this month. Since pulling to within two games of the .500 mark, Houston has lost four of its last five.

“At the end of the year, you want a chance, you just need to be close,” first baseman Christian Walker said. “Anybody can get hot at the right time.”

The Astros will use right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (7-5, 4.50 ERA) as their starting pitcher on Saturday. He’ll look to make amends for one of his rough recent outings, when he gave up eight runs in four innings in an 8-2 loss to the Washington Nationals on July 8. He has lost his past four decisions, last recording a victory on May 28 vs. Texas.

Still, his next win will give him a career-high total in his three seasons in the big leagues. He’s 1-1 with a 1.54 ERA in two career matchups against Baltimore while throwing 11 2/3 innings.

Left-hander Trevor Rogers (6-7, 4.48 ERA) will try to continue his strong stretch as a Baltimore starter. Across his last four outings, he has allowed two runs in 24 1/3 innings and has gone 3-0.

Rogers has faced the Astros twice in his career, going 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA covering 12 1/3 innings.

The Orioles have some interesting bullpen numbers, as seven relievers have at least one save this season. Ryan Helsley with eight is the only pitcher on the staff with more than four, but he’s on the injured list.

“The best thing about everyone in our ‘pen, they don’t care when they pitch,” Albernaz said. “They just want the ball and they want to help the team win.”

Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman has gone 34 consecutive plate appearances without a strikeout. He began play Friday with the second-longest active streak in the majors in that category.

The Orioles added infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand to the roster to replace infielder Blaze Alexander, who suffered a hand fracture when he was hit by a pitch Sunday in the final game prior to the All-Star break.

The Astros were active as well in setting up their roster for the first post-break series. They added outfielder Lucas Spence to the roster from Triple-A Sugar Land and reinstated pitcher Kai-Wei Teng from the injured list.

–Field Level Media

The struggling New York Mets appear ready for a fire sale, as the team could finally entertain moving shortstop Francisco Lindor.

According to reports, as the Mets bring up the rear in the National League East, only five players on their roster are untouchable. Pitchers Nolan McLean and Christian Scott and outfielders Juan Soto, Carson Benge and AJ Ewing.

Lindor’s name was notably not on that untouchable list.

Moving the pricey shortstop won’t be easy. The Mets might have to eat some of Lindor’s enormous $32 million contract through 2031. New York would also have to convince him to waive his no-trade clause.

Even though Lindor’s time with the Mets has been underwhelming, here are some intriguing suitors.

New York Yankees

Could the cross-town rivals try to make a splash at the deadline in a wide open American League? It’s not very common. But Lindor loves New York, and this could be a destination that makes sense.

The Yankees have been one of the AL’s lone good teams this season. But they have a need for infield stability, and Lindor’s glove would certainly provide that.

Toronto Blue Jays

Whenever a big-named superstar becomes available, expect the Blue Jays to be interested.

After last year’s World Series breakthrough, Toronto has struggled in 2026. They’re currently in last place of an American League East where the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays could make it very difficult for Toronto to have a postseason comeback.

But, you know how to keep fans bought in during a season of regression? A big swing for a player like Lindor.

Philadelphia Phillies

Would Lindor be willing to switch positions to second base and team up with Trea Turner for one of the most lethal infields in the NL?

It would immediately boost morale in Philly and would be another fun bat to add to an already-lethal lineup.

Cleveland Guardians

This one is wildly unrealistic due to salary cap restrictions, but the Guardians are a fringe World Series contender in the down AL.

They have a deep starting rotation and enough offense with Jose Ramirez, Chase DeLauter, Angel Martinez and Travis Bazzana to make things interesting.

Lindor started his career with the Cleveland Indians, and a reunion would make the Guardians a real threat this October.

San Francisco Giants

A lot more realistic would be a team like the Giants, who have a glaring need for an anchor in their infield.

They are a big market team that needs to sell hope to fans during another down year.